3. BYLEY.]

I.—lo.

137. What does the association give ?—I think 3f per cent, if a certain quantity is bought. 138. Evidence has been given that they never give more than 2-J- per cent : what do you know about the association ?—I have studied their rules. 139. Are there any rules ?—Yes, there are rules. 140. Have you a copy of them in your office ?—I believe I have a copy of them at home. 141. Are you speaking of the agreement or a document called " Eules " ?—Perhaps I am confounding the two things. . 142. Are you thinking of the Bakers' Union rules?— No. 143. Have you never had discussions with any of the Dunedin millers in reference to your cutting the association on discounts?— No. 144. They have never objected to your doing this?— Never, so far as I can remember. 145. Have you ever told any of those millers that if your custom was interfered with you would cut prices—that you were all right if left alone, but that if you were not left alone you would do so? —I do not know what you are referring to. 146. In your conversations with representatives of the Millers' Association have you not suggested that if you were not left alone as a small miller you would cut prices ?—I have said over and over again, because I have only a small number of men employed and do so much of my own work that if cutting was to go on I should be able to hang out as long as most of the millers. 147. Do you not think they have let you alone on that ground? —Certainly not. As I have said, we have had a little bantering frequently, but they have never attempted to interfere with my work in any way. 148. You have got on very nicely with them ?—Yes, as far as I know. 149. You say that you believe you subscribed to the £50 given to the Bakers' Association ?— I believe I did. 150. Did you also subscribe your usual donation ?—lf I subscribed to one I did not subscribe to the other. I have always given a subscription to the Bakers' Union. 151. You told us that Steven and Co. were responsible for cutting the prices in Otago ?—So they are. 152. Have you ever discussed Steven and Co.'s competition with others?—l discussed it in the public Press. 153. You think they inflicted injury upon you and upon other mills by breaking away from the association ? —Certainly I do, and upon themselves as well. 154. As a matter of fact, who first cut the prices ?—As a matter of fact, I know their traveller went round to the bakers before withdrawing from the association —knowing that they were going to withdraw —and offered flour at a reduced price. 155. Now, give us your fact? —Mr. Charlton, of Seacliffe, is one case. 156. And the others ? —I know they sold to others, and gave larger discounts than I had given, and for the time being I lost my trade before I came down in price. 157. You have reason for feeling personally aggrieved with Steven and Co. ? —-Well, they injured me, as well as others. 158. Was it within your knowledge that the association cut to meet Steven and Co.'s competition ?—lt was Steven and Co. who originated the cutting, and when the association dropped down to their level they wrote to the papers complaining that it was the association who did so, and said there was no reason for it, except to ruin them. I wrote to the papers, and exposed Steven and Co. in a way they will probably not forget for some time to come. 159. Do you put up 50 lb. bags ?-—Yes. 160. What is the price?— They are selling at £10 15s. 161. Are you selling them for 15s. per ton more than the 2001b. bags?— Yes. 162. Then, you have not cut the price of the fifties ?—I have had to do so since Steven and Co. started cutting. 163. Did they start to cut the price ? —Yes. 164. Do you know whether Steven and Co. and the millers' trust both charge the same now ? —I do not know what they are charging. I know as a fact that Steven and Co. have sold fifties at £10 155., less 10 per cent. 165. Do you know that fifties are being sold at ss. a ton less than sack flour is ?—I know that they are being sold at 10s. a ton less. 166. What price are they being sold at ?—£lo 155., less 10 per cent. 167. What is flour being sold at ?—£lo a ton nominally. 168. You say that 501b. bags are being sold at £10 155., less 10 per cent. ?—That is nominally. 169. But if it has been given in evidence that they are being sold at £9 15s. per ton, how would you reconcile that ?—lt is quite possible. 170. Do you know what is being charged in Dunedin to-day ?—I cannot tell you, because every man has his own price. 171. You have had very considerable experience in mills, have you not?—l have had, unfortunately. 172. Do you think the action of the banks in Auckland encouraged excessive investment of capital in mills ?—I do not know. 173. Well, in Otago?—l do not know whether they encouraged excessive investment in capital, but they have advanced money for investment —I will not say excessively. 174. One baker doing a fair business, and employing, say, three or four hands, would practically keep your mill going, would he not ?—Certainly not. He would only bake 6 or 8 tons per week. 175. Where do you sell most of your flour?—ln Dunedin and suburbs. 176. More in the suburbs than in the city ?—No, more in the city. 177. You gave us a list of outside millers, and mentioned Fleming and Gilkison, Miiligan, and Bond, and others ?—Yes. B—l. 10.

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